Pope Mark VII was born in the city of Klosna, in the district of El Bahnasa, and his lay name was Simeon.
When Pope John XVII departed, he was chosen to succeed him.
Pope Mark VII was ordained Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on Sunday, 24 Pashons, 1461 A.M. (30 May 1745 AD) on the day of the feast of the entry of Christ to Egypt.
He ordained a general bishop over Upper Egypt to shepherd its Christians.
He was buried in the tombs of the Patriarchs at Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo.